Defensive tackle Barry Cryer made the most of his only season as a starter for the Blackshirt defense in 2006. Cryer did an outstanding job of controlling the line of scrimmage, allowing the Nebraska defensive ends and linebackers the opportunity to make plays. Cryer started all 14 games and completed his two-year Husker career in the Cotton Bowl.

As a senior, Cryer recorded 31 tackles, and his 10 tackles for loss ranked third on the team behind all-conference defensive ends Adam Carriker and Jay Moore. He added 2.5 sacks for 18 yards in losses, and had at least one tackle for loss in eight games. He helped the Husker defense rank in the top 30 nationally in scoring defense.

Cryer began a five-game stretch with at least one tackle for loss with a half-sack against Troy. A week later, Cryer opened conference play with a career-high seven tackles, including a pair of tackles for loss, in NU’s overtime victory over Kansas. He added four tackles, including a nine-yard sack, at IowaState. In Nebraska’s narrow loss to Texas, Cryer had a five-yard sack in the fourth quarter and forced a Colt McCoy fumble on the play.

Cryer capped the regular season with an impressive effort against Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship Game. He recorded four total tackles, including two tackles for seven yards in losses, as Nebraska held Oklahoma to just 42 yards rushing, 82 yards fewer than the Sooners’ previous season low. He finished with two tackles in the Cotton Bowl against Auburn. Cryer also played a key role on a kick block unit that produced two blocked PATs and a crucial blocked field goal at Texas A&M.

2005 (Junior)

Cryer saw action in all 12 games, serving as Titus Adams’ backup at defensive tackle. He finished with six tackles, including four tackles for loss for 16 yards, and two quarterback hurries. Cryer had a season-high two tackles, including a tackle for loss against Wake Forest, then finished the season with sacks in each of the final two games. Against the Buffs, Cryer shared a second-quarter sack with defensive end Adam Carriker, one of Nebraska’s four sacks in the game, and then added an eight-yard sack of Michigan’s Chad Henne in the first quarter of the Alamo Bowl.

Before Nebraska (John Ehret HS/Dodge City CC)

Cryer had an outstanding 2004 season at Dodge City Community College in Kansas, racking up 9.5 sacks and 56 tackles in just nine games for a 3-8 team. Cryer was a three-star prospect according to Rivals.com and was ranked as the seventh-best junior college defensive tackle according to CollegeFootballNews.com. Cryer transferred to Dodge City CC from Northeast Mississippi CC after signing with UAB out of John Ehret High School in Marrero, La. Cryer chose Nebraska after also visiting Oklahoma State and Toledo.

Personal

Cryer is the son of Barry Cryer Sr., and was born on Sept. 19, 1984. He is majoring in sociology at Nebraska, and is on track to graduate in August of 2007. He was named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring Academic Honor Roll.